What's on my mind...

Jul 31

Comedy Peaking

Last night I pulled in a double header - Toy Story 3 in 3D & Dinner for Schmucks.

Steve Carell was at his best. When playing a clueless character, Carell is brilliant at being grounded and convincing and yet additionally pulling off a sympathetic character. He does it in The Office, he did it to a good degree in Anchorman, and he does it so so well in Dinner for Schmucks. Paul Rudd does what he does best in this film as well: The guy who is blinded by himself who only in the end, through learning from someone else, learns the error of his ways and both redeems himself and gets the girl (Role Models, I Love You Man, etc.). He does it well, again and again.

Add in a brilliant ensemble cast of Ron Livingston, Zach Galifianakis, Jemaine Clement,and the rest of the cast, and you have a wholly awkward and enjoyable comedy. My only one negative is I did not like one of the smaller roles casting, but the movie as a whole had me in awe, laughing, trying to hide in my seat, and yelling “Ohhh!” a couple of times.

Thank you comedies, for existing.

Jul 26

Obvious Guest Stars…Ruining My Television Watching!

I just watched the latest episode of “Lie to Me.” First of all, great show, and second of all, it has fallen into the same fate as most shows that have a twist ending—I know who the reveal is once the person is introduced on the show. I blame the economy.

Here is my breakdown: The economy is not doing so well. Movie stars are taking multi-episode arcs or leads on television shows (and also on Broadway), seasoned leads are taking the big multi-episode arc spots that are left because their lead roles are being taken up, and the multi-arc players are now settling for guest starring roles. Herein lies my problem. Spoiler for the latest episode of “Lie to Me,” I knew it was the warden. How did I know? There were three guest stars in the episode and two were non-name actors and the other spent 6 years as a lead on “Judging Amy” and was on the soap opera “One Life to Live” for more than 100 episodes. And she had one small scene at the beginning. She may be taking smaller parts, but not that small. It has plagued “Lie to Me” and pretty much every CSI and Law & Order, but you can guess the secret killer because you recognize his or her face as soon as they walk on camera. It is great that shows are getting name actors but why not think of your audience? I hear Joan Cusack is guest starring on Law & Order, as is Justin Beiber; if they are not special investigators, I wonder who the killer is going to turn out to be. You see, I left out the question mark in that last statement. Because it wasn’t really a question. I know most shows so well that I say the lines just before they appear —slightly frustrating my girlfriend— and with most shows, if you have seen them enough, they have dialogue and outcomes that follow a pattern and are relatively predictable. But come on guys, make it at least a little bit suspenseful. “Castle” has done decently at keeping me guessing, but possibly because Nathan Fillian has distracted me enough with his wit and Firefly charm for me not to notice, but oh too many shows, I could tell you who is going to come back after a couple of episodes because they had too little screen time for a single show.

I love television. From the character developments to the woven-in story lines to the different directions you get from guest directors, but please please please, for my television watching pleasure, cast some vaguely knowns, or —Heaven forbid— some somewhat unknowns as the twist reveals so I don’t feel cheated out of really loving a show!

I’ll keep watching, let me tell you, but I would be happier if you helped me out a little here Mr. or Ms. Industry, just a little is all I’m asking.

Jun 8